Thomas Partey is on the verge of joining La Liga club Villarreal, according to The Athletic.
The Ghanaian international has agreed to sign a two-year contract with the Spanish outfit, keeping him at the club until 2027.
Partey has already completed his medical checks ahead of the move and is now expected to be unveiled as Villarreal’s latest signing.
His exit from Arsenal followed a failure to reach terms on a new contract, making him available on a free transfer.
He joined the Gunners after they activated his €50 million release clause at Atletico Madrid in 2020.
Versatile performances and European ambitions
Partey played 52 matches for Arsenal across all competitions last term.
While his primary position was in central midfield, he was also used at right-back on several occasions.
Partey is a hard-working midfielder who protects the defence, wins back the ball and helps build attacks with smart passing and forward runs.
A key factor behind his move to Villarreal is the opportunity to continue competing in the Champions League.
Villarreal, who secured qualification for next season’s tournament, are building a squad capable of progressing deep into Europe’s elite competition.
Midfielder faces legal charges but denies wrongdoing
Partey’s off-pitch issues have drawn significant attention.
He was officially charged on July 4 with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
He has denied all charges levelled against him and is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The legal investigation reportedly began in February 2022, but Partey continued to feature regularly for Arsenal throughout that period.
The midfielder remained part of Mikel Arteta’s plans until his contract expired at the end of last season.
